Houthis' Trigger Finger Ready: Why Hasn't Iran's Yemen Ally Joined War Yet?

• Yemen's Houthi rebels, unlike other Iran-backed groups, have not formally entered the regional war despite leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi's 'finger on the trigger' statement.
• The Houthis, a Zaydi Shi'ite movement, captured Sanaa in 2014 and fought a Saudi-led coalition, demonstrating significant missile and drone capabilities.
• After the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, Houthis fired on Red Sea shipping and Israel, ceasing attacks after a US-brokered ceasefire in October 2025.
• Reasons for non-entry include a different religious doctrine, a primary domestic agenda, and denial of being an Iranian proxy, despite US claims of Iranian support.
• Analysts are split: some suggest individual attacks, others believe they await an opportune moment for maximum pressure, or may sit out due to economic and military risks.